Transition Town Kinsale

Energy Forum

Kinsale & District Community Power Down

The Kinsale Community Power Down is a new initiative being facilitated by Transition Town Kinsale. It is about engaging the community in energy reduction in their homes and businesses over a year. A set of targets will be outlined which the community can undertake.

TTK hope that each participant will actively encourage others to get involved so that the Power Down will become a community effort. Workshops will be run throughout the year so that the community can learn more about saving energy and reducing emissions that bring about global warming.

Launch – March 29th at TTK/ Tidy Towns Spring Fair

Trevor Sargent TD, Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development launched the Kinsale & District Community Powerdown at the TTK/ Tidy Towns Spring Fair at 2pm in the Temperance Hall.

Tricia Kenny form Carbon Action Ireland gave a short presentation after the launch – “Carbon Footprint for Dummies” followed by a question and answer session.

Throughout the day TTK answered questions about the Powerdown and people signed up. The Targets(see below) will be distributed by Flyer to the Community.

Updates on how much energy the community is saving will be found here and in the local Advertiser and Newsletter.

How can you get involved?

Householders and small businesses

• A list of possible targets will be outlined
• We will be asking participants which of these they are already doing and which they would like to do
• At the end of the year – a similar questionnaire will be given to the participants
• Each participant will be asked to encourage three others to get involved.
• Participants who undertake twelve targets will be entered into a draw at the end of the initiative.

We anticipate that a smaller group will actively measure their carbon footprint over the year and compare this with the previous year. There will be further prizes for this group. Tricia Kenny [Carbon action Ireland] will help facilitate this strand of the Community Powerdown.

Larger business/ farms/ hotels

We hope to facilitate workshops for specific groups over the year.

What else will be doing?

With sufficient funding we may do detailed energy audits on some key buildings in town e.g. hotel, school, shop etc.

Throughout the year we plan to run a number of seminars/ workshops in the following areas:

• Carbon Footprint at Launch (Spring Fair)
• Home heating
• Energy Sources
• Transport
• Energy Management for Hotels or other business groups.
• A more detailed set of lectures/ workshops may be provided to show how energy / CO2 reduction can be achieved.

Powerdown Targets

Energy at Home

No Cost

1. Turn it off when not in use – lights, the TV, all appliances
2. Turn down the central heating slightly - try just 1 to 2 degrees C
3. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load
4. Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need
5. Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly
6. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it
7. Reduce heat loss- close doors and curtains

Spend to save

8. Fit energy saving light bulbs
9. Install thermostatic valves on your radiators
10. Fit reflective material behind radiators on outside walls
11. Insulate your hot water tank
12. Improve attic insulation
13. Improve wall insulation
14. When replacing or fitting windows buy quality double glazed ones
15. Purchase ‘A’ rated appliances whenever possible
16. Buy non-battery operated torches

Go the extra mile

17. Home Heating – consider all options if you are installing a new home heating system
18. Build a green home if you are building

Transport

No Cost

19. Walk or cycle when you can
20. Minimise unnecessary car trips
21. Car share to work, or for the kids school run
22. Read SEI motoring tips and improve the fuel efficiency of your car
23. Go for a walk/ run rather than drive to the gym
24. Holiday at home

Change how you travel

25. Use your bike – buy a bike if you don’t have one
26. Use the bus or a train rather than your car
27. Don't use domestic flights use a train or a coach
28. Take the ferry instead of flying

Go the extra mile

29. Think green when replacing your car
30. If you are moving home make cutting transport one of the criteria for choosing your new home
31. Take less business trips

Shopping

No Cost

32. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip
33. Always bring your reusable shopping bags
34. Try to buy products made closer to home – that is from Kinsale, then Cork, next Ireland and Europe\\ 35. Buy local fruit and vegetables
36. Don't buy over packaged products, ensure it is recyclable
37. Don't buy bottled water unless necessary and then from a local source. Buy a durable water bottle
38. Avoid using disposal products

The Four R’s 39. Reduce your waste – see no 37, buy quality products
40. Reuse it if you can or Free cycle – see TTK Freecycle notice board
41. Repair something instead of replacing it
42. Recycle as much as possible

Go the extra mile

43. Grow your own food – a few containers of herbs to start

Use water wisely

44. Take a shower instead of a bath
45. Place a filled plastic liter bottle into the cistern of your toilet
46. Repair dripping taps
47. Buy a water butt and collect water for the garden

Lastly

• Avoid unnecessary electricity use between 5pm and 7pm - help reduce national CO2 emissions. e.g. don’t put on the washing machine or dishwasher until after 7pm!
• Think about the type of activities you do in your spare time.
• In addition don’t forget your footprint at work